MGMA Insights: The Future of Healthcare Design for Patient-Centered Care

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Sharon Woodworth, a healthcare sector leader at HED and assistant professor at UCSF, who has over 12 million square feet of healthcare facility design experience. Sharon shares her insights into creating spaces that enhance patient care, operational efficiency, and sensory perception, all while tackling the challenges posed by rising costs and evolving needs in healthcare. From flexible pod designs to the future role of AI in architecture, Sharon discusses how thoughtful design can improve both patient and provider experiences in healthcare settings.

Key Points and Takeaways:

• The Impact of Design on Patient Care and Experience
  • Sharon explains how healthcare design goes beyond aesthetics, aiming to make spaces feel welcoming and supportive for patients while remaining highly functional for clinicians. By considering factors like lighting, temperature, and even the view from a patient’s room, designers can create environments that support healing.
• Flexible “Pod” Design for Efficiency
  • One of the strategies Sharon recommends is the "pod" design, which clusters rooms into neighborhoods that can scale up or down based on patient volume and staffing availability. This layout is especially useful in times of crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing healthcare facilities to adjust quickly to changing needs.
• Standardization for Cost Control
  • With inflation affecting construction and operational costs, standardizing room layouts and architectural elements can lead to greater efficiency and reduced expenses. Sharon highlights the importance of aligning these architectural standards with each facility’s operational needs to maximize resources effectively.
• Future Trends: AI in Healthcare Architecture
  • Sharon discusses how AI is becoming integral in design. Beyond diagnosing and patient care, AI tools in architecture can analyze data to optimize room usage, control environmental factors like temperature and lighting, and anticipate staffing needs, ultimately making facilities more adaptable and efficient.
• Leadership and Direct Experience in Healthcare Design
  • As a professor, Sharon emphasizes the importance of direct observation in healthcare leadership. She encourages leaders to "go see" and understand the physical space firsthand, as it can often reveal insights that data alone cannot provide.

Connect with Sharon Online:
HED Profile: Sharon is featured on HED's official website, where you can learn more about her role and contributions.

• HED Profile

UCSF Profile: As an Associate Professor at UCSF, Sharon's academic profile provides insights into her teaching and research.

• UCSF Profile

LinkedIn: Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn to view her professional background and network.

• LinkedIn Profile

MGMA Resources:

• MGMA Stat
• Ask MGMA
• MGMA Conferences
• MGMA Consulting

We Want to Hear From You:

Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover, an expert you would like us to interview, or if you'd like to appear on an MGMA podcast. Email us at:

• Daniel Williams: dwilliams@mgma.com
• Ryan Reaves: rreaves@mgma.com
• Colleen Luckett: cluckett@mgma.com

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